The fungus that made itself at homeDue to its aggressive capacity to damage the wood in homes, bioenergy researchers have been interested in harnessing the brown rot Serpula lacrymans towards breaking down plant mass for conversion to sustainable, alternative biofuels and bioproducts. In The ISME Journal, insights on how the fungus has responded to manmade changes in its ecological habitat, adapting to thrive in built environments.

An Addiction Crucial to a Fungus’ ReproductionIn the absence of the Burkholderia endobacteria, the Rhizopus fungus cannot act as a plant pathogen, and researchers have now discovered that endobacteria also regulate its sexual reproduction. The work sheds light on a poorly understood group of oleaginous or oil-producing fungi, and the impact this mutualistic interaction has on these potential large-scale biodiesel producing fungi.

Succulent Genes for Water Use EfficiencyTo understand how many plant lineages have independently transitioned from C3 to CAM photosynthesis, researchers sequenced and analyzed the genome of Kalanchoë fedtschenkoi (lavender scallops). As the first CAM eudicot to have its genome sequenced, Kalanchoë offers researchers a reference to trace the evolution of CAM photosynthesis in this group.

Quantifying Cyanobacteria InteractionsThe long term objective is to quantify dynamic interactions between phototrophs and their virus predators. This will help to build quantitative, dynamic and predictive models of host-viral interactions and the effect on carbon and nutrient cycling.

Meet a JGI User: Tobias Erb"The JGI has been crucial for our research because it has provided the scientific community with a tremendous amount of gene sequences over the last couple of years. These gene sequences have become a true treasure grove for synthetic biologists like us."

Meet a JGI User: Colleen Hansel"We have been working on genomic and transcriptome studies of a unique group of manganese (Mn) oxidizing Ascomycete fungi that were isolated from coal mine drainage treatment systems and metal-laden freshwater ponds. The staff and facilities at the JGI were critical for conducting this research. "

Meet a JGI User: J. Chris Pires"My mission is to train the next generation of scientists by doing high impact, interdisciplinary science in a collaborative atmosphere. JGI is an important partner in this team science effort in cross-training students and postdoctoral researchers."

Tracking Microbial Diversity Through the Terrestrial SubsurfaceIn Nature Microbiology, JGI researchers collaborated with a team led by longtime collaborator Jill Banfield of the University of California, Berkeley and Cathy Ryan of the University of Calgary in Canada, investigating samples collected at Utah's Crystal Geyser over one of the its complex, five-day eruption cycles.

All in the Family: Focused Genomic ComparisonsIn the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers report the first results of a long-term plan to sequence, annotate and analyze the genomes of 300 Aspergillus fungi. These findings are a proof of concept of novel methods to functionally annotate genomes in order to more quickly identify genes of interest.

When One Reference Genome is Not EnoughHaving plant pan-genomes for crops that are important for fuel and food applications would enable breeders to harness natural diversity to improve traits such as yield, disease resistance, and tolerance of marginal growing conditions. In Nature Communications, an international team lgauged the size of a plant pan-genome using Brachypodium distachyon, a wild grass widely used as a model for grain and biomass crops.

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Science Highlights

Retracing how the dry rot Serpula lacrymans adapted to a new ecological habitat.
The Science
By comparing genetic information from similar organisms, researchers have gained insights on why the dry rot (Serpula lacrymans) is so destructive in houses. A study involving six brown rot fungi … [Read More]